SITE PREPARATION FOR ROUNDABOUT ARTWORK COST €10,000

While the new artwork erected at the Coolshannagh roundabout outside Monaghan Town did not cost the local authority any money, preparing the site for it entailed expenditure of €10,000, it was stated at Tuesday’s meeting of the Monaghan Municipal District.

Independent Co Councillor Seamus Treanor sought re-confirmation at the meeting that the sculpture (put in place through an EU PEACE-funded cross-Border project linked to the regeneration of the Ulster Canal) “was given to us as a present”, and hadn’t cost the Municipal District or Monaghan Co Council anything.

David Maxwell (Fine Gael) said it had cost €10,000 for site preparation.

Municipal District Co-ordinator Donal McElwain confirmed that the piece itself did not cost the local authority anything.

Independent councillor Paudge Connolly said that the public art piece was a particularly nice sculpture, and really well placed – at least people could see it, not like a similar art installation along the Castleblayney by-pass.

Cathaoirleach (Robbie Gallagher): The sow on the brow.

Colr Connolly said people frequently asked where the ‘Blayney sculpture, which was connected to the legend of the Black Pig’s Dyke, was located.

Colr Connolly also remarked that they had got the Coolshannagh roundabout artwork “at a big knock-down price”.

ROUNDABOUT SPONSORSHIP

The Cathaoirleach asked if any progress had been made in relation to his recent proposal that sponsorship for the roundabouts in the vicinity of Monaghan Town be sought.

“I understand that there would be a number of businesses in the town and in the wider North Monaghan area interested in sponsoring them,” Colr Gallagher stated.

Mr McElwain said that the Municipal District had yet to look at their policy in relation to the private sponsorship of roundabouts.

The Co-ordinator added that the National Roads…